General

A beach lover’s paradise indeed, this wonderful villa sits right in the heart of the Circeo National Park; the most difficult decision you will make on your holiday ...... what beach to head to next?

A hop, skip and a jump to the private beach and chic swimming pool of Hotel Punta Rossa, one of the best hotels in Italy and a luxurious way to relax. Amble off the beaten track to the picturesque little coves that are dotted along this coastline for a more intimate afternoon. But if long stretches of white sand is more your thing, head to Sabaudia , just 20 minutes drive from Paradiso Sul Mare it has over 18km of beautiful soft sandy stretches, a rare gem in Europe and mainland Italy. And if you still have a day or two of beach combing to do, choose one of the many beaches down in San Felice Circeo, enjoy a cool beer in one of the many cafes and restaurants or just simply relax alongside the ocean.

With the best beaches on mainland Italy right on your doorstep, you will be truly spoilt for choice.

Paradiso sul Mare was designed by modernist architect Michele Busiri-Vici and is considered one of his masterpieces. Its organic curves of Mediterranean-soaked light show many influences, from North Africa to Gaudi to Italy’s arts-and-crafts tradition. Every room is like a handmade, spacious seashell.

The villa has the contemplative serenity of two generations of writers, with a magnificent garden of agave, cactus, cypress, palm, aloe, lemon, apricot, myrtle, and a forest of olive trees. The views are stunning across an immense sea to the Pontine Islands, and back to the sweep of mountains and coast.

The villa is wrapped in fluid terraces, with plenty of lounge chairs and in the distance are Naples, Mt. Vesuvius, and Ischia. The property is enclosed by bougainvillaea and jasmine and has an outdoor shower and a secure double parking area.

Location

Paradiso sul Mare, with its stunning views and private tranquility, looks out from a protected mountainside within a national park. Caves of ancient man are minutes' walk away. The small, nearby resort town of San Felice Circeo is named for the goddess Circe from Homer's Odyssey; local wisdom relates that the mountain was her island. The town’s Centro Storico boasts a medieval piazza, intimate restaurants and cafés, and stylish shops.

Since the 1950s San Felice Circeo has been known to Italians but kept secret from most foreigners. In summer, well-to-do Romans rent villas and frequent the diverse beaches. A km from Paradiso sul Mare is one of Italy’s luxury hotels, the Punta Rossa, with a fine restaurant, chic bar, cove beach, seaside pool, and health spa (all open to non-residents with the guests of Paradiso sul Mare benefitting from a 10% discount on all services). This discount is also available at another hotel, Il Faro, which is 2kms away.

Beside the swimming options in Circeo itself, just around the headland stretch the 20-km sands at Sabaudia, one of the finest beaches in Europe. Among its dunes, in the 1960s and 1970s, novelist Alberto Moravia, director Pier Paolo Pasolini, and actress Anita Ekberg were neighbors; Signora Fendi is still tweaking her villa. (Anna Magnani kept a villa and is buried in Circeo.)

Separate laundry room with washer and dryer for the use of the guests.

Outside:

Terraces with sea view

Outside shower

*Maid service, daily or otherwise, is available for €12 an hour, payable directly by the client. This must be arranged upon booking the property. (Meal preparation can usually be arranged as well.) A gardener who is fluent in English, German, and Italian comes frequently to the property and is often reachable by telephone for advice, translation, or assistance.

**PLEASE NOTE THAT AIR CONDITIONING IS LIMITED JUST TO THE BEDROOM ON THE LOWER FLOOR*

***PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST TERRACES HAVE LOW WALLS SO YOUNG CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES***

The security deposit will be collected by Cottages to Castles just prior to your arrival at this property.

WHAT TO DO

This is a destination for vacationers who (awakened by bird calls) want to relax, read, paint, and explore the wonders of nature. Most people cannot imagine what it means to live in a national park: a diverse eco-system of dunes, beaches, forests, and mountain trails. You can hike, swim, cycle, walk, tan, play tennis, sail, bird-watch, ride horses, windsurf, snorkel, water-ski, fish, canoe. A rich array of archaeology and prehistory is a mere stroll away. There’s also a cooking school one evening a week, in English, and tours of olive oil, wine, and mozzarella artisans.

For gardening enthusiasts, the region boasts at least four of Italy’s great gardens. Within a two-hour range are Ninfa and Landriana on Ischia are La Mortella and the Giardino Ravino. The gardener at Paradiso sul Mare has a lifetime’s experience and is happy (if you speak even rudimentary Italian) to share his vast knowledge. Terracina (older than Rome), Sperlonga (a medina-like, cliffside town) and Sabaudia (a Fascist “model” resort) are an easy drive. The islands of Ponza, Palmarola, and Zannone (a nature preserve) are accessible by daily ferry from Circeo’s harbor. From two nearby stations frequent trains run to Rome (1+ hour), Naples and Pompeii (1½), Ischia/Capri (1½ + ferry). The Amalfi Coast is 2½ hours’ drive away. The historic WWII battlefields at Anzio are thirty miles away.